I’ve had every intention of posting 9 times between January 1st and now. There goes that resolution. After reading this book, I’m convinced there was no better book to start out a new year. Given where life is, where it has been, the questions, the frustrations…God knew…and this was a great way to kick off 2012.
I’ve recommended books on here before but I’ve never reviewed one. That changes today.
Hip-hip-hooray!
I knew this one was coming. I knew it would strike a chord with me. The title didn’t scare me (although it got my attention). After reading the title, I welcomed whatever challenge it may present me with. Fact – if the author’s last name is Hatmaker, I’m gonna read it.
‘7: The Experimental Mutiny Against Excess’ by Jen Hatmaker
I loved this book!
While I anticipated some of what this book offered, there was a good bit of it that took me completely by surprise. It went way deeper than the “stuff” and went so much into what the stuff represented. Even more than that, it pricks at our core questions. The belief that there is more to the life that Jesus came to give us…and by more, I do not mean more stuff. That “life abundantly” stuff holds a far greater significance than we have lived out. How do we express that to others? What is our responsibility? How we purchase, what we purchase and what we don’t says more than we realize. This book got me thinking and praying…a lot. Honestly, it got me as much on fasting as it did on the excess. Reading this felt like an invitation to join in on a crazy train of a journey. I accept!
Every chapter struck something different. Just when I thought a chapter was my favorite, the next offered something different. By the end, I realized each chapter builds on last. This was not a “how-to” or a guilt-ridden rant. This was full of honesty, hilarity, humility, practicality and some darn good writing.
I did not finish reading 7 feeling simply inspired. I’m up to my eyeballs with inspiration and that just leads to me in tears, frustrated out of my mind and unable to go to the movies for fear of further motionless inspiration. Give me something to do with that inspiration. This is someone writing about the questions we all ask and pursuing a different way (and taking her family along for the ride). Seriously, the honesty and practicality will give you somewhere to start. That means a lot to my over-active brain.
Buy it for yourself. Buy it for a friend. If you are afraid the title will offend someone, get guts like my Mom. One year, she gave every man in my family ‘So You Call Yourself a Man’ by TD Jakes…for Christmas! They will thank you for it, and you’ll have more guts for doing so.
Read…enjoy…and join the crazy train!